Jose Maria Flores

Jose Maria Flores (1818-1866) was the Mexican Governor of California from 1846 to 13 January 1847, succeeding Robert F. Stockton and preceding Stephen W. Kearny.

Biography
Jose Maria Flores was born in Mexico in 1818, and he arrived in the province of California in 1842 to serve as a secretary for Governor Manuel Micheltorena. Flores emerged as one of the leaders of the rebellious Californios who resisted United States occupation during the Mexican-American War, and he served as Governor of California from 1846 to 1847. His forces engaged in a few battles with the white Californian rebels, defeating them at Chino, but Stephen W. Kearny and the US Army would soon invade California to crush the Mexicans. On 12 January 1847, after being defeated at La Mesa, he was forced to seek a truce with the Americans, resigning the governorship the next day. He released all of his prisoners before leaving Los Angeles, which came under US occupation.